Page:Passions 2.pdf/149

Edw. Ha! is it so? But you have been victorious.
How went the field?

Sea. Loud rose our battle's sound, and for a while
The Mercians bravely fought; when, all at once,
From some unlook'd for cause, as yet unknown,
A powerful panic seiz'd our better wing,
Which, back recoiling, turn'd and basely fled.
Touch'd quickly with a seeming sympathy,
Our centre-force began, in laxed strength,
To yield contended space.—So stood the field;
When on a sudden, like those warriour spirits,
Whose scatter'd locks the streamy light'ning is,
Whose spear the bolt of heaven; such as the seer
In 'tranced gaze beholds midst hurtling storms,
Rush'd forth a youth unknown, and in a pass,
Narrow and steep, took his determin'd stand.
His beck'ning hand and loud commanding voice
Constrain'd our flying soldiers from behind,
And the sharp point of his opposing spear
Met the pale rout before.
The dark returning battle thicken'd round him.
Deeds of amazement wrought his mighty arm;
Rapid, resistless, terrible.
High rose each warlike bosom at the sight,
And Mercia, like a broad returning wave,
Up swell'd into a hugely billow'd height,
O'erwhelming in its might all lesser things,
Upon the foe return'd. Selred and Ethelbert
Fell on their weaken'd flank. Confusion, then,